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“How about everyone with a guitar goes and grabs them, and we can all have a jamming session together when the guys come back from their meeting?”

Her eyes rounded, and she clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh my God! I’ll get Mom to video us. Wait until I show the kids at school!” She leaned in and gave me a one-armed hug. “Thank you so much! I knew you’d be brilliant when they said you were Iceman’s ol’ lady. He’s so cool.”

I laughed at her obvious joy, my heart warming as I took in her happiness. “Yeah,” I agreed. “He is.”

She jerked her thumb toward reception. “Gonna go get my guitar.”

I nodded, smiling after her as she went.

“She feels things,” a voice announced roughly .

I craned my neck to see Kennedy’s husband staring after his daughter. “She’s special,” he went on. “I dunno what it is, but all her life she can feel whatever you feel.”

“Empath,” I stated.

He grinned at me, his eyes catching mine. “Yeah.”

My belly wobbled.

God, he was so fucking handsome.

“It comes with having a poet’s soul,” I told him. “It’s what makes her musical—she feels what most people can only dream of.”

“You sound like you have experience in that,” he stated.

“So do you,” I shot back.

His eyes leveled mine. “Maybe. I’m not a musician, though.”

“You don’t have to be a musician to have a poet’s soul.” My head tilted. “Breaker, right?”

He nodded.

“Kady just told me how desperate she is to go to LA,” I pointed out. “She has a poet’s soul but also a courageous one. She wants to live her life on her terms.”

“We’ve been approached by her music teacher.

Kadence is gifted; she can look at a sheet of music and know it by heart, and she can hear a song and immediately play it by ear perfectly.

I don’t doubt her talent, but I worry those LA sharks will chew my baby up and spit her out.

Want her to have a childhood and go to college, and experience all the normal rites of passage she should.

LA will still be there after, and if she’s as good as they think, she’ll make it. ”

“Yeah.” I nudged his shoulder with mine.

“And luckily, now Kady knows someone who has a house on Malibu Beach where she can stay while she’s auditioning and making connections.

Someone who knows a lot of people in the business who’ll look out for her and guide her right.

Plus, she has Noah Hart, who’s like a brother to her and who’ll wring the neck of anyone who tries to take advantage. She’ll be okay.”

He dipped his chin, holding my eyes. “Thank you.”

“If Talia hears Kady play as well as you say she does, she’ll go after her,” I warned him.

“It may feel soon for you, but Tally will respect your wishes and just keep her finger on the pulse with Kady for now. She’s a great manager.

She’s trying to build her agency and wants to gather real talent and make sure they’re supported in the right way. ”

He jerked his chin toward Tally, who was whooping it up with Tristan and Heather to the music. “You mean the ballbuster who nearly made Rockabye cry?”

I grinned. “That’s her.”

His shoulders visibly relaxed. “Kady could do worse.”

I took a big swig of my drink. “These cocktails are fucking awesome .”

“Fucking lethal more like. Kitten’s wasted, and she can handle her booze.”

“She’s a great dancer,” I told him, glancing at her enviously as she strutted around with Anna and Tristan, shaking her ass.

“She was dancing the first time I ever saw her,” he murmured, his eyes taking in his woman and softening so beautifully that it made my heart tug.

“I was a young soldier on leave before I had to deploy to Afghanistan. She was a Vegas stripper; the best one in town and the headlining act. I saw her show, and she blew my mind. Then, I met her at an all-night diner where we talked for hours, and afterwards I took her up a mountain to see the sun rise over Vegas.” Emotion filled his face, and there and then I saw the poet’s soul shining from his eyes. “I’ve loved her ever since. ”

The back of my throat burned, and I croaked, “You just inspired me.”

His gaze fell over my shoulder, and he nodded in the same direction. “Boys are back in town.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see Jacob with Hendrix and the other officers sauntering through the doors from reception.

Jake spotted me immediately and made a beeline for us. He grabbed my hand and tugged me close, and bent his neck for a kiss, murmuring, “You okay?”

“I’m great,” I assured him softly. “Gopher created a cocktail for us.”

His stare fell on Kennedy and Sophie, who were doubled over laughing at something hysterically, and he grinned. “So I see.”

“I’m a little drunk.”

His eyes darkened slightly, and a wolfish grin fell over his face. “Excellent.”

“I may have told Kady that me and the boys would jam with her, Hendrix, and anyone else with a guitar.”

He threw his head back and laughed, and in that moment, I loved him with all my poet’s soul, and I knew I always would.

Jacob’s eyes fell back on me, and he dipped his chin to look deep into my eyes. “Can’t wait.”

I smoothed his hair back from his face, wondering how I had never realized how dark my life was before him. He lit me up completely.

“I love you,” I whispered.

He grinned. “How much?”

I smoothed my fingers over his dark blond brow. “If you can’t see I love you soul deep, then you’re not paying attention.”

His smile faltered, and he rasped, “Baby,” before bending his neck again and softly touching his mouth to mine. He lifted his head. “Where’s your boys? ”

“A group of the girls led them off about twenty minutes ago.”

Jesus,” he muttered. “They didn’t waste any time.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “Want you to meet a few people.”

I smiled brightly and sang, “Okay,” then I jumped ten feet in the air when someone barked, “Yo!”

Craning my neck, I saw a behemoth of a man standing behind me. “Hi!” I squeaked, clearly more drunk than I thought, because I followed it up with, “You’re a big boy.”

A slow cocky grin spread across his face. “Sure am.”

Jacob’s growl was low.

I pulled out of his arms and held my hand out. “I’m Saint.”

He looked at me with his incredibly long-lashed, brown eyes and blushed profusely. “Diablo.”

“Oh, hi!” I gave him a low wave.

“Howdy,” he replied in a timbre so deep that it reminded me of Khal Drogo. “Big fan.”

“You’re such a sweetie-pie!” I exclaimed, glancing at Jacob. “Isn’t he sweet, Jake?”

“Fuckin’ peachy,” my man muttered.

Diablo blushed again and stared down at his boots, before lifting his eyes to look through those amazing lashes at me.

“We kind of met the night Iceman pulled that weird fan off you at the rock festival but we were never formally introduced. Got all your CDs. Wondered if you’d sign ‘em before you leave. Mi mamá loves ya, too. “Empty” is one of her favorite songs.”

“I love that!” I cried, then I lowered my voice. “Has anyone ever told you that you’ve got beautiful eyelashes? In fact, you’re very good-looking.”

Jacob grunted from beside me.

Diablo’s face burned scarlet, but he beamed a smile. “Do you like Christmas lights?”

My eyes rounded. “I love Christmas lights.”

He grinned. “Me too.” His face turned a slightly more normal color. “Someone just said you’re gonna jam later.” His eyes lowered to the ground again, like he couldn’t meet my gaze. “I play a bit.”

“You should jam with us, too!” I exclaimed.

He looked crestfallen. “I’m not very good. Probably wouldn’t be able to keep up.”

I touched his shoulder. “Go get your guitar. I’ll go over a few chords with you before we jam, and I’ll also make sure we keep the songs simple. If the others want to play fancy stuff, they can, but you can just strum the chords. Our jamming sessions aren’t about perfection, they’re all about fun.”

Diablo’s face stretched into a huge smile. “I’ll go get it.”

I gave him my killer grin. “Good.”

He turned to go but faltered slightly. “Nice to meet you, Saint.”

I clasped his huge, solid shoulder and squeezed. “You too, Diablo.”

“Friends call me D,” he grunted.

“Then D it is.”

He gave me a loose salute with two fingers, then ambled away, leaving me to step back into Jacob’s arms. “He’s a sweetheart,” I announced.

“He’s an asshole, but he’s a little bit in love with you, so it’s all good.” Jake picked up my glass and sniffed the contents. “What the fuck did Gopher put in this?”

“Vodka, sparkling wine, pineapple juice, and a few other things I can’t remember.”

He chuckled. “Why’s it pink?”

“That’s Sunshine’s fault,” I admitted. “Gopher asked what we wanted in it. Sunny said it should be pink because it’s her favorite color.

” I leaned forward and lowered my voice.

“And did you know that Sunshine and Kai have a love triangle going on? He’s got a harem of honeys, so she flirts with the boys at school to make him jealous, even though she’s a strong independent woman and doesn’t want him anyway until he’s been in the Army and grown up some. ” I gave him big eyes.

He laughed. “That’s Wyoming for ya. The stories I could tell ya are crazy.” He leaned down and nuzzled my nose with his. “Me and you are fuckin’ boring compared to those drama-filled fuckers.”

I deadpanned. “Well, we had a two-year separation. I wouldn’t call it boring.”

“We reconnected and had talked it out within days. No miscommunication, no bullshit. I told you where I was coming from, and you did the same. No fighting, no angst, and no daytime soap opera bullshit. Job done.”

“No thanks to you not telling me about the club girls,” I said dryly. “Oh, Heather’s lovely by the way, haven’t had a chance to talk to the others, but we had a chat and she’s very sweet.”

“They’re okay,” he acquiesced. “We did have a couple’a bitches in our midst, but we kicked ‘em out. Hendrix won’t have nasty shit goin’ down at the club, and neither will Anna.”

“I love it here,” I announced.

Jacob’s fingers curled around the back of my neck, and he touched his mouth to mine. “I’m glad.”

“Relocating to Virginia won’t be a hardship. I feel safe here with you.”

His eyes crinkled with his smile, but still, he seemed wary. “We need a quick chat, Saint.”

My stomach dropped slightly at his expression. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing. It’s just we found some shit on Jonny and Braden Hunt. Historical issues with ex-girlfriends. Did you know about it? ”

“Braden, no. I don’t know him well at all. Is he even capable of that kind of crazy? He seems so together.”

“According to the profile, he hides the crazy well,” Jake confirmed. “Remember, we’re not dealing with an everyday Joe here, baby.” He sighed, his icy eyes boring into mine. “What about Jonny?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “Look, Jonny swore us to secrecy at the time, but he was honest about everything. He told us what happened with his ex-girlfriend back when he first joined the band in case Talia dug up shit from his past. He was open about it; he said he was young and stupid and fancied himself in love. She cheated and dumped him, and he went off the rails. He has anger issues and, as far as I know, got therapy, but I think all that’s fallen by the wayside recently. ”

“How recently?” Jacob asked.

I shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe a few months ago.”

“When you started getting the letters and gifts,” he pointed out.

A sick feeling jolted through my stomach. “I never thought of that.”

“We’ll keep an eye on him and never leave you two alone.

The entire place is covered with cameras, and there are men around all the time.

Stick with me, and when I have to go off and do something, you stay with Diablo, Hendrix, Blade, or Gambit.

They’re the brothers I trust the most, and they’re fuckin’ deadly.

The good thing is, Jonny admitted to you he went off the rails, but the stalker justifies everything he does in his own head.

Jonny fits a lot of the profile, but that part doesn’t ring true.

I’ll talk to Colt about it and see what he says. In the meantime, we stay vigilant.”

His protectiveness made my heart swell.

I pressed my face to his chest and let the comfort of his body melt away all my worries and anxieties.

It was crazy, but in a way, I just wanted the stalker to make a move.

Living in limbo was beginning to take its toll.

I was walking on eggshells constantly, and it was starting to have an effect on my mental health.

Jacob must’ve read my mind because he tilted my chin with his finger until our gazes locked. “Love you, baby,” he whispered. “I’ll die before I let anything happen to you.”

His words sent a cold shiver down my spine, but internally, I shrugged it off.

Jacob was a professional bodyguard, and he knew what he was doing.

I just had to do what he told me and play it smart until whoever was tormenting me slipped up.

We could ride it out, and we would overcome our challenges; we just had to keep the faith.

The alternative didn’t bear thinking about.